Golf Cup Advertising Disc

ABSTRACT

An article device bearing or containing an advertising or promotional message and that is adapted to sit within a golf hole cup. The article may be imprinted with an, or contain a viewable advertising logo, message, or the like with an ink or other visually identifiable medium that is not subjected to distortion based upon water filling the cup, dirt infiltrating the cup, and the constant impact of golf balls falling into the cup and onto the article. The article may be equipped with a central opening through which the flag pole may be inserted. The article may or may not be separable from the flag stick.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to United states Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/766,829, filed Feb. 14, 2006, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to advertising media, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for advertising on a golf course.

One key to advertising is to ensure that your advertisement is actually seen by those individuals who are potential customers of whatever good or service is being advertised. In addition to the traditional television and radio commercials and sponsorships, other venues for advertising include roadside billboards, the exterior and interior of public transportation vehicles, such as buses and cabs, banners flown from the tail of an airplane, placards posted on walls of airports, malls, and public restrooms. One problem with the use of advertising media that is in such public places is that individuals can become desensitized to the effects of any particular advertisement due to being simultaneously exposed to many different advertisements.

One area where an individual is not generally subjected to a plethora of advertisements is on a golf course. Because there are no walls and most golf courses do not want or permit billboards to be erected along the fairways, there is limited space in which a company wanting to reach golfers can place an advertisement. For instance, an advertisement may be placed within a golf cart, perhaps, but other than that, there has not been any advertising venues available on golf courses.

It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a device on which an advisement can be placed and that is exposed to golfers on a golf course.

It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide an advertising product that will be seen by a potential consumer separate and apart from all other advertisements.

Other objects and advantages will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a device bearing an advertising or promotional message and that is adapted to sit within a golf hole cup. The present invention provides rigid, water resistant, disc shaped article having a diameter approximating that of a standard golf hole. The article may be imprinted with an advertising logo, message, or the like with an ink or other visually identifiable medium that is not subjected to distortion based upon water filling the cup, dirt infiltrating the cup, and the constant impact of golf balls falling into the cup and onto the device. The device may be equipped with a central opening through which the flag pole may be inserted. The device may or may not be separable from the flag stick.

In its preferred form, the disc-shaped article includes paper-board or other material on which an advertisement can be printed encompassed in a transparent plastic housing. The housing protects the paperboard media from being damaged due to weather and adds structural rigidity to the article.

In a second embodiment, the disc shaped article includes a transparent plastic housing in which paper or paperboard material is housed. The paper or paperboard media can be removed by a golfer, if desired. For instance, a coupon (e.g., for golf balls) can be imprinted on the paper and removed from the plastic housing by golfers. In addition to the removable coupons, one non-removable advertisement can be placed at the bottom of the housing such that once all the coupons are removed, there is still an advertisement to which the golfers are being exposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciate by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf course green;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a golf hole cup in which the present invention is positioned;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a golf hole cup in which the present invention is placed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a golf green 10 having a flag 12 inserted in and upstanding from a golf cup 14. In the game of golf, the object is to ultimately make the golf ball drop into cup 14, thus requiring each and every player to ultimately pick up his or her ball out of cup 14.

The present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, wherein a disc 16 having a diameter approximating that of a standard golf cup 14 is adapted to be positioned in overlying relation to the floor of golf cup 14. Disc 16 may be composed of plastic or other suitable, weather (specifically water) resistant material, and preferably includes an opening 18 formed centrally therethrough, as well as a centrally, inwardly directed taper that funnels water towards opening 18, thereby preventing accumulation of water in covering relation to disc 16. Opening 18 allows permits flag 12 to be inserted therethrough.

Disc 16 includes predetermined imprinting 19 thereon. For instance, imprinting 19 can include an advertising message, a logo, a trademark/service mark, or other promotional indicia. Regardless of the message, imprinting 19 is intended to be seen by all golfers who remove a ball from cup 14.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a variation of disc 16 is shown. Specifically, disc 16′ includes a slot 20 in which coupons 22 or other pliable sheets can be placed and ultimately removed by golfers. For instance, a local sports store may place coupons for golf balls in slot 20.

With reference to FIG. 6, standard golf cup 14 is retrofit with a sleeve 100, preferably composed of transparent plastic material, that may be removably and securely positioned within cup 14. Sleeve 100 comprises an annular body with a floor region 102 that tapers uniformly, preferably at about a 60° angle, downwardly to facilitate drainage towards an open center 104 having a diameter sufficient to receive flag 12 therethrough. Extending outwardly from the periphery of open center 104 are a series of tabs 106 that are adapted to resiliently engage the hole formed in the bottom of cup 14 to secure sleeve 10 is position while not affecting the functionality of cup 14.

Sleeve 100 further comprises an annular channel 106 in which paper media, preferably printed with advertisements, coupons, or other promotional expression, can be stored and ultimately removed by golfers when picking their golf ball out of cup 14. A slit 108 that extends along the length of sleeve 100 provides access to channel 106. With this form of “wrap” advertising, i.e., the paper will be wrapped about the sleeve 100, the outer facing advertising can be positioned such that its printing faces outwardly and can be viewed through the preferably clear plastic sleeve. If coupons are also inserted in the sleeve 100, they can be removed without impacting the out-facing advertisement. 

1. An advertising media adapted for positioning in a golf cup, comprising: a. a disc shaped body having an outer peripheral edge, an upper surface and an opening formed therethrough; and b. said upper surface tapering downwardly from said outer peripheral edge towards said opening.
 2. The advertising media according to claim 1, further comprising a slit formed in said disc shaped body and a cavity formed in said body that is in communication with said slit, wherein said cavity is adapted to retain at least one slip of paper therein.
 3. The advertising media according to claim 1, wherein said body is composed of a transparent material.
 4. The advertising media according to claim 1, wherein said upper surface is imprinted with a predetermined expression.
 5. An advertising media adapted for positioning in a golf cup having a predetermined diameter, comprising: a. a sleeve having an outer wall that defines an outer diameter less than the predetermined diameter of the golf cup and an inner wall that is annularly spaced from said outer wall by a predetermined amount and defines a space therebetween; and b. an elongated slit formed through said outer wall that provides a means for accessing said space.
 6. The advertising media according to claim 5, wherein said sleeve further comprises a floor that includes an opening formed therethrough and that tapers uniformly downwardly from said outer wall towards said opening.
 7. The advertising media according to claim 6, wherein said floor further comprises at least one tab extending outwardly from said opening. 